VOY Inspire : Young Hero Priya Verma

I am Renu. I had the opportunity to interview Ms. Priya Verma
the famous young innovator and environmentalist of India. The
interview is given below.

Hello Priya, how are you?

I am fine.

You are an innovator. Tell us about you and your innovation on
which you are working for water conservation?

I am Priya Verma (24 Years) an innovator, accredited writer and a
young environmentalist.

My pioneer work is on the conservation and preservation of
precious water in the world.

Conservation and preservation of water is very essential for the
existence of life on earth. Underground water is one of the key
earth resources. Due to excessive use of water for agricultural,
commercial and domestic use the world water table is going down
at an alarming rate and it has a bad impact on our ecology and
food production. Keeping in view of the gravity of the situation,
I have innovated useful technologies of rainwater harvesting to
increase the underground water resources that are useful to the
entire world. The Government of India, UNEP and other
organizations worldwide have recognized the techniques
highlighted in my project “Increasing Underground Water
Resources”. Some of the eco-friendly techniques include the
Funnel System, Polythene cover System, Less Water for
Plants-Growing in sand, gravel, liquid without adding soil, Pits/
recharge well system, etc. These techniques/ideas are universally
applicable, globally novel, cost effective, eco-friendly, and
utilitarian.

I have been working on the project since 2006 and highlighted the
devastating impact of the decreasing level of underground water
and succeeded in bringing this burning issue to the public
notice. Funnel systems and polythene systems are the best systems
in the world to increase the underground resources and which can
also be used in rooftops, buildings, hilly and plain places. The
unused/idle bore wells and tube wells can be easily used with the
funnel system to conserve water during rainy season and people
are using it and saving thousands of liters of water during rainy
season.

The other method is the Less or no water for growing
Plants-Growing plants in sand, gravel, liquid without adding soil
system. This method is useful where water is not available due to
shortage of rainfall and no other source of water is available in
deserts, hilly areas to grow plants, trees and food grains. This
method is useful even in space explorations as you can grow
plants and food in space where water is not available to grow
plants and food grains.

My efforts have improved the water conservation and preservation
in Kerala, Odisha, Delhi and other Indian states and the world.
This project has been displayed in the International Project
Gallery-2007 by the UNEP (Volvo adventure) at Goteborg, Sweden.
Many countries like Kenya and Singapore, UK, Canada, USA and
Australia have also appreciated and adopted my innovative project
for the conservation and preservation of precious water.

The project has been posted in the websites of www.cywe.org,
takingitglobal.org, campaign central UK, gysd.org,
wecaninternational.org, smg.org, simpol.org, travel2change.org
among others. My appeal is for the people/countries to adopt
these useful techniques to save water for the future generations
and to save the environment and life on the earth. I am also
involved in projects/campaigns like the Environment is
everybody’s responsibility, Generate energy, preserving soil,
Generate energy from waste, save trees, save water campaign and
many more.

Tell us about your CYWE network and its objectives?

I am the founder of non-profit CYWE network. My website cywe.org
is working for the conservation of natural resources and bringing
awareness among people. This site that serves, teaches and
inspires youth on global issues and support and recognize the
efforts of the students across the globe who are working at the
grass root level to protect and preserve the environment. Also to
support and create awareness to achieve the United Nations
Millennium Development Goals (MDG) and Sustainable Development
Goals (SDG) to eradicate poverty and hunger, universal education,
gender equality, child and women health, combat diseases like
HIV/Aids, environmental sustainability and protection of natural
resources, global partnership for helping change the world for
better. The mission of the CYWE network and quote is “Inspiring
youths to create change". The mission of my network is to engage
young people as active citizens who improve the environment and
protection of natural resources in their communities. People have
liked my work/website and ranked as most popular website.

You are involved with other organizations. Please tell us your
volunteering work?

I am a member of the United Nations Young Leaders for the
Sustainable Development Goals and a member advisor of many
international organizations. I am the Alumni Youth Council member
of Youth Services America, the Global Advisor of TakingITGlobal,
Conrad foundation USA, dosomething.org, NSHSS USA, NCES Canada,
Presidential Youth Council USA, Associations of British Scholars,
World Pulse, Voices of Youth UNICEF, British councils and working
on service learning projects, environmental issues, conservation
and preservation of natural resources, climate change,
eradication of hunger and poverty digital mapping, youth
empowerment, youth policies, development issues, child and women
power and conducted lectures, seminars in school and colleges,
local communities, British councils, ABS and other organizations
and created awareness on water conservation, climate change and
global issues among the masses and received worldwide
appreciation and many international awards to my work. I am the
recipient of 2015 Commonwealth Youth award in excellence for
development work from Caribbean and Americas region. Besides this
I am selected as a Young achiever of Commonwealth.

I am also a member of other organizations including the
GenerationON, United Teens USA, NSCS USA, Travel2 Change,
Campaign Central, the Association of British Scholars, Golden Key
International Society Canada ,and Commonwealth Canada , IGGY
University of Warwick UK and Canada World Youth among others.

You are an accredited writer of Newspapers and Magazines. Tell
us about your work?

Writing is my passion. I began to write when I was six years old
and in school. As a writer, I have penned more than 1500 articles
on youth, women, environmental and other burning issues of the
society published in print and media and created awareness among
the masses. I am an online writer, reporter and journalist for
newspapers and blogs such as; AYJW, World Pulse, Voices ofYyouth,
British councils, NSHSS, AllVoices, World Bank, youTHink, the UN,
Commonwealth, cywe.org and UNICEF among others and transformed
the society with my writings.

You have received many international awards to your
outstanding work in such a small age. Tell us something about
it.

I am Recipient of the Diana Award from Mr. Gordon Brown the Hon”
Prime Minister of UK in 2009, National Youth Award from the
Government of India, Every Day Hero Award from Youth Services
America and United Nations Outstanding Youth Achiever Recognition
International Award 2010, Golden Key Community Service Award 2011
from Canada, SBN International Youth Award 2012 from Australia as
a leader and innovator, TakingITGlobal Canada appreciation,
Commonwealth Youth Award in excellence in development work 2015,
The World Pulse Community Leadership Award 2015 as a Vocal
Contributor, Dewey Winburne Community Service Award. Scotia Bank,
Canada, Bright future Young Leaders International Award 2016 in
the field of volunteering, leadership, environmental protection
and community service from Canada and many other state, national
and international awards for my work.

What message you would like to give to the youth?

I am strong supporter of youth power and women empowerment. I
want to tell the youth to study well, excel in their field of
choice, protect environment, conserve and preserve natural
resources and work for the betterment of the world.

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